Mechanical swimming exercising machine



I Feb. 14,1950 B. BECKER MECHANICAL SWIMMING 'EXERCISING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1945 5 Shets-Sheet l 36 ooooooodocxoooo'u INVENTOR BENJAMIN BECKER ATTORNEY H M BY. W.

FeB. 14, 1950' B. BECKER 2,497,391

MECHANICAL SWIMMING EXERCISING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J5 INVENTOR BENJAMIN BECKER Patented F eb. 14,1950

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANICAL SWIMIWING EXERCISING MACHINE 4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in mechanical exercising machines and, more particularly, to a device for assisting a person in simulating the movements of swimming in a manner which may be referred to as relaxed swimming.

The present invention has for its primary obj ect the provision of an exercising device capable of assisting an individual in performing body exercises by the simulation of the motions of swimming.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device of the type stated which is rugged and durable in construction and is, at the same time, attractive in appearance and economical in cost of construction.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a device of the type stated which is relatively compact, so that it may be conveniently set up in a small gymnasium, a basement exercising room, or even in the bedroom of the user so as to be conveniently accessible for exercising purposes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the type stated which is comfortable during use in exercising and will not unduly fatigue the user and yet will make it possible for the user to exercise all of the muscles of the body in substantially the same manner as would be thecase in actual swimming and, at the same time, to accomplish this result in a convenient, efficient, and more or less relaxed manner.

And withthe above and other objects in view,

my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, ,arrangement, and combination of parts' presentlydescribed and pointed out in the claims.

the accompanying drawings (three sheets) Figure 1 is a-top plan view of an exercising device constructed in accordance with and embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view;

.-. Figure 3 is; a fragmentary vertical sectional' view of the device taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1-;

Figure 4 is an end cisin device;

-Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken elevational view of the exer- Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of. the exercising device, showing the several positions of the arm-stroke members; and

Figures 9 and 10 are fragmentary sectional views of the exercising device taken along the lines 99 and Ill-40, respectively, of Figure 8.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates an exercising machine comprising a main frame I formed of angle iron members of suitable gauge and strength and including four vertical legs 2 which are flared outwardly at their lower ends and swaged in the provision of enlarged feet 3. The legs 2 are connected to provide a box-like skeleton framework by pairs of horizontal, preferably tubular, upper side rails 4, 4, and lower side rails 5, 5, and the lower side rails 5, 5, are, in turn, connected by horizontal end bars 6, 6', the end bar 6' being disposed a short distance inwardly from the rearward ends of the lower side rails 5, 5. The upper side rails 4, 4, are similarly connected by transverse angle iron members 1, 1', each disposed a substantial distance inwardly from the forward and rearward ends, respectively, of such upper side rails 4, 4. It should be noted that the lower side rails 5, 5, extend rearwardly beyond the rear legs 2, 2, for a substantial distance and are furthermore transversely connected by an intermediate horizontal strut 8. Each lower side rail 5 is also connected with the corresponding superposed upper side rail 4 by a vertical strut 9 disposed in forwardly spaced parallel relation to the adjacent rear leg 3 and each strut 9 is finally connected with its corresponding forward leg 2 by a lengthwise extending horizontal rail H! disposed between the upper and lower side rails, 4, 5.

Also formed of flat bar stock, is a rectangular box-like framework ll mounted around the rear overhanging ends of the lower side rails and extending vertically upwardly to, and slightly beyond, the upper rails 4, 4, and projecting outwardly equidistantly on either side of the rails 4, 4, 5, 5, in the provision of an enclosing framework of somewhat T-shape in horizontal crosssection, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2. The entire framework 1 is enclosed in a continuous apron or sheathing l2- formed preferably of sheet metal or other suitable material having any desired external decorative finish.

Welded or otherwise ri idly secured at their;

ends to. [and extending horizontally between, the end bar 6' and the strut 8, is a pair of spaced parallel bars l3, I3, constructed preferably from angle iron or other suitable material longitudinally reinforced to eliminate any substantial degree of vertical deflection, and positioned relatively close together and more or less midway between the lower side rails 5, 5. Mounted upon the upper faces of the bars l3, 13, in substantial alignment with the rear legs 2, 2, is a pair of transversely alignedshaft bearings l4, l4. Journaled in and projecting horizontally through the shaft bearings l4, i4, is a shaft [5, and pinned to both of the projecting ends thereof, are idenrticall shaped or matching crank wheels l6, [6' of such size as to rotate freelyin: the clear'space between the bars l3, l3, and the lower side rails: 5, 5, respectively.

Pivotally secured at their lower ends upon the outwardly presented faces of'tl're crank wheels,. l6, l5, are upwardly extending connecting rods H, H, which are, in turn, rockably connected at their upper ends to. vertically reciprocating rods I48, I 8, slidably mountedi'nan'd'extending through verticallyaligned pairs ofbearings l9, l9, which are respectively mounted-upont-he inwardly presented faces'offthe rear legs 2*, 2. At their upper ends, the, rods I8; t8; are each-thread'edly mount= ed in'the underf'aces' of horizontally disposed rectangular plates 26; and secured upon the upper faces of the platesZlL, is a cushion base-block 2! provided around; its peripheral" margins with a hollow pillow-like cushion shelli 22' formed of' leather, leatherette; fabric; or othersuitable material having its interior space filled with an inflatable rubber cusliion2-3; which is, in turn, provided in itsbottom wall with a valve tube 24 extending downwardly through the base-block 2| and plate 29, terminating in a conventional air valve 25, all intheprovisiorr of so-called kneepads B. operatively disposed within the rear enlarged portion of theframe I.

Secured peripherally around the cushion block" 2!, by means of suitable upholstery nails 2'6 or' other like attachment means, is a downwardlyprojecting sheet metal skirt 2T provided along the rearward panelwith a rectangular opening 2a; which is provided with a hingeddoor or 010- sure 29. to afford easy access tothe air valve 25' for purposes of inflating orpumping up the aircushion 23.

Each of, the plates 20' is furthermore-provided,

forwardly of the rod- 18, with a stabilizing slide rod 38, the latterprojecting downwardly therefrom and extending slidablythrough a vertical slide bearing 3i rigidly mounted upon the inwardly presented face of the adjacent upper side rail 4. It will be not-ed, by-reference toFigure-I, that the knee-pads B are of substantially rec-- tangular shape and each have-a horizontal cross sectional area equal to halfthehori'zont'al crosssectional area oftherear enlarged' portion efthe frame I.

Secured upon the transverse angle iron members l, l, by means of upwardly projecting brackets 32 and extending forwardly from the kneepads B for the" remainder of the length or" the frame I and projectingashort distance forwardly therefrom, is a body cushion C comprising a baseboard 3'3 and a cushion shell 34 secured peripherally thereto and having its interior space filled with a pneumatic cushion- 35, which is, in turn, provided in its bottom wall with an air tube 36 extending downwardly through the forward overhanging end of the baseboard 33 and being fitted with a conventional air valve" 341 For decorative purposes, theouter peripheral' edge ofthe bodycushi'on C may be:trimmed with a suitable binding strip 38 secured by a series of upholstery nails 39 or other like securement elements.

Securely mounted upon the upper faces of the intermediate rails I0, is a rear pair of transversely aligned shaft bearings 40, 40, an intermediate pair of transversely aligned shaft bearings 4|, 4|, and a forward pair of transversely aligned shaft bearings 4:2}, 42. Rotatably mounted? at its ends in, andextending horizontally between, the shaft bearings 48, 45, is a shaft 43 having pinned thereto a small sprocket wheel 44 and a large sprocket wheel ti; the lattenbeing connected by a sprocket chain 46 to a sprocket wheel 41, which is, in turn, pinnedrunonthe shaft l5 approximately midway between the shaft bearings l4, l4. The sprocket 4E4 is similarly: connected by a sprocket chain 48 to a sprocket 49, which is pinned to a shaft 50, the latter being journaled at its ends in, and extending horizontally between, the shaft bearings el} 4F. Also pinned to-theshaftfifl; isa fly-wheel el an'd asprecket 52,- thelatterbeingconnectedby means of a sprocket chain 53 toa sprocket 54; which-is; in turn, pi'nnedupon-a shaftfifij ourna-Ied inandprojectingthrough theshaftbearingsi'i, 42', lhe ends of the shaft 55 project outwardl y' through apertures 5% in the apron or'sheatlii'n I 2 and are diametrally' split and apertured, as at5 'l".

Swingabl'y secured within-the split ends ofthe shaft 55 on opposite sides of the device'bymea-nsof pins 58, is a F-shaped-castihgit provided with atransverse tubular end section 80 and extend-- ing lengthwise through suclitubular end section- 69; is a relative'ly-'longtubularsleeve B l closedat its one end 62 and internally provided with a snugly fitting-- reciprocating slide rod 63 which projects outwardlyfrom the other' or openendthereof. The tubular sleeve B l is heldi-ad justably within the" tubularenclsection 6th bymeans of a pair'ofseucollars-fi l; 652 so=that the longitudihal position of'the sleeve 61'- witliih the tubular mem ber may be adjusted to any desii'ecl lengthto accommodatethe; length of the arm of the person: using the exercising: machine: It should be noted that'thesleeve El has: amoutside'diame tral size substantially smallei than the inside diam-- etral: size of the. member 60* and the latter is: accord'ingly internally? provided with a lengthwiseextending segmental shoe 66, which is" held in place by two longitudinallyspaced set" screws 61 88; so that the sleeve 61 can be accordingly ad lusted within narrow limits to various angular positions in relation to the longitudinal axis of the tubularsectionvfim. v

Hockably mounted upon the. of the cast'--.

ing 59; is: a. radially projecting arm 69'; and welded thereto, is a tubular sleeve internally provided with a recipnocatiirgrrodf Fl, which projects outwardly therefrom and is integrailyprovided' at its outer or: projecting end with an enlarged' head 12' and is normally urgedi'nwardl'yby means of a tension spring l3 attached'at-it'sends respectively to the-outer-face of the sleeve T0 and the head l2. Disposed upomtlieifat or inner-face oftlie head 12 and around the rod 'lfl, is an arrnular abutment collar 14 formed preferably of sponge rubberor' other suitable shock absorbing material. The outer end of the head 'll 'is pro-- vide'd with' a transversely extending milled slot T5, and rockably held within such slot T5 by mea-ns ofa; pin T6, is-a second'ary arnr Fl? extending outwardly and being pivotallysecured at its outer end to 22- stud- TBfiXed i'n amend block 15; whieh is, in turn, weldedi-or otherwise suitably secured to the outer end of the slide rod 93 and is provided with a projecting plate -80 having a roller type hand-grip 8|.

Intermediate its ends, the secondary arm 11 is provided with a plurality of apertures 82 for optionally accommodating one hooked end of a tension spring 83, which is, in turn, at its other hooked end secured in a projecting ear 84 formed integrally upon the arm 69. The tension of the spring 83 may, of course, be adjusted or varied by shifting its hooked end from one to the other of the several apertures 82 and the rod 63 is normally held in inwardly disposed position within the sleeve member 6|. In this connection, it should be noted that the end face of the block 19 is preferably provided with an annular shock absorbing ring 85.

Rigidly mounted upon the projecting ,end of the shaft 55 and extending more or less radially outwardly therefrom, is a bracket 96 apertured at its outer end for receiving one hooked end of a tension spring '81, which is, at its other hooked end, engaged in a retention ear 88 formed integrally upon the outer face of the sleeve member GI, and mounted upon the sleeve member 6| for lengthwise slidable adjustment. is a set collar 89 having a pair of radially projecting spaced parallel ears 99, and rockably mounted therebetween by means of a screw bolt 9|, is a small clevis 92 operatively provided with a roller 93 for engagement against the outwardly presented angular face 94 of a segmental cam block 95 rigidly secured upon the outer face of the apron or sheathing I 2, all as best seen in Figures 8 and 9. It should be noted in this connection that the spring 81 is of such length and strength as to urge the sleeve BI and its associated arm-stroke mechanism angularly inwardly, so that the roller 93 will ride against the angular face 94 of the cam block 95.

In setting up the device for use, the knee-pads B and cushions C may be inflated with an ordinary hand air pump or other suitable means to any desired degree for the comfort of the user, it being recognized that some persons may prefer a relatively hard cushion and other persons may require a relatively soft cushion.

The user will place himself in an outstretched position with his chest, stomach, and hips resting upon the cushion C and his knees resting one on each of the knee-pads B in the position shown in Figure 2'. It will be noted that, in such position. both the head and feet extend outwardly beyond the exercising device and in the clear, so to speak. The user thereupon grasps the two handles 8|, one of which, of course, is on one side of the machine and the other is on the other side and being intended to be grasped one in the left hand and one in the right hand. It will furthermore be noted that the handle 8| for the left hand will be disposed at 180 to the other handle 8|, which is adapted to be grasped by the right hand, that is to say, when the one handle is down, the other handle will be up and vice versa. The user may thereupon rotate the arm-stroke assemblies by swinging his arms very much in the manner which he would do in a normal swimming stroke, retaining at all times his firm grip upon the handles 8|. As he stretches his arm, the slide rod 53 will swing out to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 8, and, as he draws his arm in closely, the spring 83 will shift the rod 63 inwardly to accordingly shorten the stroke. As the handles 8| are rotated, the shaft 55 will be accordingly rotated and such rotary motion will I sisting the user in simulating the foot kick movement of the normal swimming stroke.

The user may, of course, start slowly and increase speed as his proficiency increases and,

, similarly, the user may use the machine for increasingly long periods of time as his muscles become stronger and better developed. In any case, it is possible by the use of the exercising device of the present invention to obtain all of the beneficial muscular exercise achieved in actual swimming and do so without undue strain upon any particular muscles. Actually, the exercises may be performed in an almost relaxed manner, so that the ultimate benefits from the movements can be obtained.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the exercising device may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An exercising device comprising a horizontal cushion for supporting the upper portion of the users body, a pair of vertically reciprocable cushions for supporting the knees of the user, a shaft rotatably mounted beneath the forward end of the horizontal cushion, a T-shaped fitting pivotally mounted on each end of the shaft and having a transverse tubular section, a tubular sleeve held adjustably within and extending through the said transverse tubular section, a slide rod mounted in the sleeve for lengthwise reciprocating extension, a hand grip mounted on the outer end of the slide-rod, V-shaped hinge means rockably connected at one end to the T- shaped fitting and at the other end to the rod and including a transverse spring for normally urging the rod into the sleeve, a bracket secured to and adjacent each end of the shaft, a tension spring secured at one end to the bracket and at the other end to the sleeve for normally urging the sleeve inwardly, an inclined cam block mounted adjacent the path of the sleeve, cam roller means associated with the sleeve for coaction with the cam block for outward movement of the sleeve when the sleeve is rotated, and means connected to and driven by the shaft for moving the knee-supporting cushions up and down in alternate vertical movement responsive to rotary movement of the arm-stroke mechanism.

2. An exercising device comprising a horizontal cushion for supporting the upper portion of the users body, a pair of vertically reciprocable cushions for supporting the knees of the user, a shaft rotatably mounted beneath the forward end of the horizontal cushion, a T-shaped fitting pivotally mounted on each end of the shaft and having a transverse tubular section, a tubular sleeve held adjustably within and extending through the said transverse tubular section, a slide rod mounted in the sleeve for lengthwise reciprocating extension, a hand grip mounted on the outer end of the slide-rod, V-shaped hinge means rockably connected at one end to the T- shaped fitting and at the other end to the rod and including a transverse spring for normally uxslne he. rod; into the sleev fse racketisecureda ozan adja nta h. end of herhaf a. 1 sion. sprin secured. at one: end. to. the; bracket;- and at.-the.-.other;end..toi h sleeve-for normally urging,- the; sleeve: inwardly, n nwardly prov jecting cam rollen on thesleeve, an outwardly. presented segmental. cam mounted adj acent. the path. of the sleeve and ,engageable with the roller fbr=-laterally outward. movement of the sleeve-as; the sleeve is rotated throughthelower, halflof: itsspath of-rotation, and;m.eans, connected to anddriven, by the; shaft formoving the knee-sup-. porting; cushions up;- and down, in. alternate, ver ical movement responsive; to rotary. movement; qf; the. arm stroke mechanism;

3.. Anexercisine devicercomprisine. a horizon?- tal. cushion. fon supporting the: upper portion; of the; users body. a pair; of vertically reciprocal.- cushions for supporting. theknees; of. the, user, .a, shaftrotatablymounted beneath theforward end of, the, horizontal. cushion, a. T-Shapfiifitfillgpilfi l? mounted-.011 .each,endofitheshaft'and hav inea transversetuhular section,,a sleeve-held ad-- justablywithin andextending throueh-ztheisaid, transverse-tubular:section,.a.s 1ide rod mounted in. the sleeve for lengthwise reciprocatingextension, a\A-shaped.linkkmemberrcnmprising;asheveconnested; at. one end. 0ft he. T-sh pcd. fitting, a rc-- ciprocating rod provided in said sleeve and pro jecting, outwardly, therefrom;, said reciprocating rod being provided. at itsjouter end with an em. lal gedhead, portion, a tensionspring attached at one end tothe sleeve andatitsother end, to the enlarged headportion for. normally urging; the reciprocating rod. inwardly, a secondary arm rockably. mounted upon the enlargedhead portion.

oi'thereciprocating rod, an end. block secured to thenuter. end. of. the slide rod, the outer,- end of the secondary. arm beingpivotally secured in the endbllocln a... hand. grip, mounted on. the outer, end of.

thesliderodha bracket securedto, and adjacent.

ni ll nddown in alternate vcrti almovemcnt, responsive torotary. mQvementof. the arm. roke mechanism.

An. exercising device comprising. a. horizon.-

8% I ta}; cushion. for supportingthe upper. portion; of. he-zuse o y, a pair.- 0fr v r ic y ciprocalcushions for supporting the kneesof theuself t sha-ft rotatablv. mounted beneath ,theforward ,end

l of, the horizontalcushion, ,a-I-shaped; fitting ;p iv

otally mountedonreach end'ofrthe shaftand havs. ing. a tnansversez tubularsection, a. first. sleeve member-held adjustably within and; extending; through. the, saidtransverse tubular section, a. slide rodmountedinthe first sleeve memben for: lengthwise. reciprocating extension, a. V.-shape d,- linhmember. comprising; a. second sleeve. member. connected atone. end, to the. T.-shaped., fitting, a.

' reciprocating rod provided in. said second, sleeve ing. pivotalh; secured. in thev end, block,, a. hand grip. mounted ,on, the outer. end, of the slide rod, a bracketlsecured, to. and, adja ent, each. end of theshaft, a spring member secured atone end to; the. bracketand at he other. e d t he. t sleeve. memb r or. n rma y in e: fi st sleevemember inwardly, an, inwardly. projecting cam, roller. on the, first, sleeve member, an; out-. wardly presented segmen l cam. mounted adiae cent the, path of the-first sleevemember and one ,i gageable, with. the; roller. forlaterall outward.

movementof, the-.firstslceve member. asthe first sleeve... member ismtatedthrough thelovver half f. ts path of rota ion. and me ns connect d to, anddrivenbn he haitior moyinethe kneesunporting cushions up and down in alternatevertb. cal-movement-.resnonsive to. rotary. movementof he-arms rokemechanism...

BENJAMIN; BECKER- REFERENCES CITED The, following; references areof: record in the file of this patent:-

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

